Frictionally-held hinge



May 15, 1951 o. c. GESSLER FRICTIONALLY-HELD HINGE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 14, 1948 gwentor attorneys Patented May 15, 1951 UNITED STATES serum OFFICE FRICTIONALLY-HELD HINGE Otto ,C. Gessler, Detroit, Mich.

Application August 14, 194$,SerialNo. @4242 1 Claim. 1

flhis invention relates to hinges and, in particular, to yieldably held hinges.

One object of this invention is to provide a hinge which can be adjusted to any one of ,a number of predetermined positions and yieldably held i tho e o iti ns- Another object is to provide a hinge having a yieldable holder associated with the hinge brackets and so arranged as to yieldably retain the hinge brackets at a given angle ,to one another until a sufficiently strong force is applied to oyercorne the resistance of the holder and swing the bracket to a different angle.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a hinge constructed in accordance with a preferred form of the invention, as adapted for use on automobile doors;

Figure2 isa horizontal section looking upward from below, taken along the line-2--2 in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a vertical section taken along the line 3-3 in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a modified form of thefriction plate shown in Figure'l, having an undulating corrugated peripheral surface;

Figure 5 is a front elevation of a modification of frictional hinge in a form adapted for use closures of a lid type for receptacles;

Figure-6 is a side elevation of the hinge shown in Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a vertical section taken along the line 'l-l in =Figure5;

Figure 8 is an edge view of a modified form of series of peripheral corrugations;

Figure 9 is a side elevation, partly in section. of an application of the invention employed with an automobile trunk compartment lid 01' lid or another receptacle;

Figure 10 is a top plan view of a further modification of the hinge shown in Figure 5;

Figure 11 is a side elevation of the invention as shown in Figure 10;

Figure 12 is a vertical section taken along the line I2l2 in Figure 10;

Figure 13 is a vertical section taken along the line [3-43 in Figure 11;

Figure 14 is a vertical section taken along the line I l-14 in Figure 11;

Figure 15 is a perspective View of the pivot member shown in Figure 12;

Figure 16 is a top plan'view of the washer shown in Figure 10; and

Figure'l'l is a top plan view of the spring disc member shown 'inFigure '10.

Referring to the drawings :in detail, Figures '1, '2 and '3 show an automotive structure consisting generally of a door 8 movably connected to a stationary portion '9 by means of a frictional hinge, generally designated 10. "The hinge l0 consists generally of brackets II and I2 which are held in association by a fastenerl3 composed of a head Hi and a shank. l5 and secured in posjition by anut [6 (Figure 2) "Ifhebracket I l issecured by means of fasteners 18 and fl!) to the structural member I? which is .afliged to and concealed by the cover plate 20. The bracket ll consists generally of a head 21 provided with a hole 22 for the insertion of the fastener l8, and a back support23 provided with perpendicular flanges it connected also with the head 21 and'having-oblique sections 25, attach mer t sections'fit and feet 27, which extend outwardly perpendicular to the sections .26 and .are provided with countersunk holes 28 for the insertion of the fasteners E9.

The structural member ll has three sides 29, 3t and 3! (Figure 2), side 29 being provided with a large rectangular aperture 32 for the insertion of the bracket l l and toallow room for the hinge to swing. The portions of the side 29 flanking the hole 32 are provided with circular holes .33 for the insertion of the fasteners l9 to secure the feet 2! of bracket l l to the member Il.. The side 39 liesadjacent and parallel to the back support 23 of the bracket Ii, and the side 3!, to which the head 2! of the bracket I! is secured, is

the friction hinge Shown i Figure -5, having a provided with a hole .34 for the insertion of the fastener I 8.

Figures 1 and v3 show the two flanges 2t pierced by the fastener l3, the sections 26 being fornished with holes 35 for that purpose. Extench ing from the inner sides of the sections 2t toward each other are two bosses 3.6, the holes .35 through them as well as through the sections 26.

Adjacent the bosses 35 are two resilient frictionplates 3'! having struck-up portions 38 provided with holes 353 for the insertion of thefastener {3. The edges til of said friction plates are held parallel to and in contact with the side of the structural member ii, thus preventing rotation of the friction plates around the axis of the fastener I3 when the hinge is swung. To facilitate alignment of the'holes 39 of the friction plates 3'! with the holes in the bosses 35 in the process of assembly, the flanges '24 are provided with lugs ll extendinginward from the junctures 42 of the sections 25 and-26 of said flanges. The lugs 4|,

being in contact with the edges of the friction plates 31, help to anchor the friction plate 31 and prevent rotation thereof.

The bracket I2 (Figure 2) consists of a rightangle member 53 and a hinge arm 45, the former being composed of two mutually perpendicular sections 45 and 45. The section 45 is secured to the inner surface of the member ll of the door 8 (Figure 2) by welding, riveting or any suitable means. 48 for the insertion of a fastener 49 by means of which the right-angle member 43 is secured to the hinge arm 45, said hinge arm also being provided with a hole 55 for the same purpose.

The hinge arm 4-3 consists of a straight section extending parallel with and secured to the section of the right-angle member 53 and containing the hole 55, a curved portion 52 which is the hinge arm proper, and a terminal cylindrical portion 53 provided with a hole 54 axially bored to admit the fastener I3. The curved portion 52 passes out of the door 9 through the aperture 47a. in the member 4?. Extending from the edges of the curved portion 52 near the terminal cylindrical portion 53 are two protuberances 55 which are maintained in frictional contact with the resilient friction plates 3'! of the bracket II as a result of the bending of said plates by the protuberances 55. Figure 4 shows a modification of the frictio plate 37 consisting of a friction plate 55 having a struck-up portion 5? provided with a circular hole 58 and also having an undulating corrugated peripheral flange 55 flanked by straight flange portions 55 and ti, the latter being flush with I.

the struck-up portion 5'1.

Figures 5, 6, 7 and 9 show a modification 62 of the frictional hinge iii of Figure 1, consisting of brackets 53 and 54 mounted on an auto frame structure 55 and closure lid frame 65 respectively by means of fastener 67 and 5B (Figure 9). The bracket E3 consists of a base 59 and a perpendicular arm 15 having a circular terminal head TI provided with a square hole I2. The bracket 54 consists of a base I3 and a curved arm 74 having a circular terminal head I5 provided with a circular hole '55.

The two circular terminal heads II and I5 are held adjacent and in movable association with each other by a fastener member 'i'i consisting of a head 8, a square shank i9 and a circular shank 88. The shank 39 has a fiat-sided extension 82. The square shank '59 passes through the square hole 12 of the bracket 53, while the circular shank 89 of the fastener I? passes through 'the circular hole '53, so that the circular terminal head I5 is movable with said fastener.

Adjacent the circular terminal head I5 is a spacing washer 85 of small diameter having a circular center hole for the insertion of the circular shank 80 of the fastener 'I'i. Adjacent said washer on the side opposite the circular terminal head '55 i a resilient spring washer 88 provided with two peripheral indentations 39 located on opposite sides of said washer and two arms 9i projecting radially from the circumference having between them a notch 92. Extendinginto the notch 52 from the arm Id of the bracket 64 is a stop pin 93 anchored in a hole 94 in the arm 14. As a result, the spring washer 83, washer Y235 and bracket E i, all mounted upon thecircular shank 86 of the fastener TI are able to rotate with respect to said fastener, but the stop pin 93 causes the bracket 64 and the spring washer 88 to be fixed with respect to each other.

The section 46 is provided with a hole Adjacent and in frictional association with the resilient spring washer 88 is a rigid backing washer 95 provided with two peripheral protuberanoes 96 located oppositely as in the spring washer 88 and with a fiat-sided center hole 91, said backing washer 95 being fixedly mounted upon the shank portion of the fiat-sided extension 32 of the fastener 'II. Likewise fixedly mounted upon the same shank portion adjacent said backing washer is a smaller washer 98 having a flat-sided hole 99 for the insertion of said shank portion.

Holding the assembly together is a nut I00 mounted upon the threaded portion of the flatsided extension 82.

Figure 8 shows a modified resilient spring washer HM having an undulating edge I52 and radially extending arms I53 for the reception of the stop pin (Figure 6).

Figures 10 to 14 inclusive show a modified frictional hinge generally designated I54 including two arms I55 and IE5 withrounded ends, arm I55 being provided with a circular hole III! in its terminal portion and arm I55 having a square hole IE8. The terminal ends of the two arms are 'in an overlapping position. Arm I65 is alsofurnished with two upwardly protruding indentations I89.

In frictional association with the terminal portion of the arm IE5 is an adjacent resilient spring washer I 95 provided with two peripheral indentations Iii corresponding to the indentations I09 in the arm 555 and with a flat-sided center hole H2. Located next to the spring washer III} on the side opposite the arm I55 is a small retaining washer I I3 having a semi-rectangular center hole Ii i similar to the center hole H2 in th spring washer Iii}.

Holding the entire assembly together is a pivot member H5 having a circular head MS, a square shank II! and a circular shank N8 of which the upper end portion I Is is cut away to provide flat sides. In the process of assembly, the upper end I22 is enlarged in rivet fashion to form a retaining head E23. (Figure 14.) The square shank H? is inserted in the square hole I58 of the arm H36. The circular shank H8 fits into the circular hole it? in the arm I55, while the fiat-sided end portion H9 fits into the flat-sided center holes H2 of the spring washer III! and hole H4 of retaining washer H3. Thus washers H0 and H3 and arm H15 are rigidly held with relation to each other and to the pivot member H5. Arm I55, although frictionally held by the spring washer H6 is able to rotate with respect to all other parts in the assembly.

In the operation of the frictional hinge shown in Figure 1, when the door 9 is in its closed position (Figure 2), the protuberances 55 of the hinge arm 44 lie within the spaces enclosed by the struck-up portions 38 of the friction plates plates 37 to frictionally grip the protuberances 55, thus yieldingly holding the door.

If the modified friction plates 58 are employed (Figure 4), the protuberances 55 are held positively'but releasably in the recesses provided by the undulating flange portion 59.

In the operation of the modified hinge shown in Figures 5, 6, '7 and 9, when the closure 65 is in its closed position shown in Figure 9, the protuberances 96 of the washer 95 fit into the peripheral recesses 89 of the spring washer 88 and yieldingly hold the closure shut. If a sufficient pressure is applied to lift the closure 66, however, the spring washer 88 is swung and its recess portions 89 pushed axially to permit the protuberances 96 to move out of them and frictionally engage the straight peripheral portions of the washer 88.

The operation of the modification shown in Figures 10 to 17 inclusive is similar to that of the form shown in Figures 5, 6, 7 and 9. When the arms I05 and H16 are moved out of alignment with one another, the protuberances I09 move out of the peripheral recesses I H of the indented washer H0 and frictionally engage the remaining portions of the Washer.

What I claim is:

A hinge structure comprising a hinge bracket, a pivot member mounted on said bracket, a hinge arm pivotally mounted on said pivot membar, a detent member mounted on said pivot member and secured to said hinge bracket, said detent member havin a multiplicity of fluted portions therein, and a protuberance connected to said hinge arm and engageable with said fluted portions.

OTTO C. GESSLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 498,551 Howarth May 30, 1893 1,263,319 Heinzelman Apr. 16, 1918 1,429,881 Howe Sept. 19, 1922 2,354,789 Atwood Aug. 1, 1944 

